The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council stated the ₦10 billion President Bola Tinubu accredited in June for Ebola emergency preparedness stays untouched, dismissing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s questions in regards to the cash.
The council made the declare in an announcement dated Thursday, 22 October, signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, and shared on X by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
“On accountability, the Atiku camp should note that the N10 billion the President approved for the Ebola emergency in June remains untouched, while the NCDC, FAAN, and other surveillance agencies have spent other available resources,” the assertion stated.
The council didn’t present monetary information establishing that the cash stays unspent or clarify why the funds had not been utilised 4 months after the president directed their speedy launch.
On 9 June, Mr Tinubu approved the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola. He ordered the speedy launch of ₦10 billion to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness towards the illness and different rising public well being threats.
The activity power, chaired by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was established following Ebola outbreaks in different African international locations.
The campaign council’s assertion adopted Mr Atiku’s demand for an account of the funds after well being authorities confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja.
In an announcement issued on Wednesday by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate requested the federal government to publish the quantities disbursed, cost dates, contracts awarded, beneficiaries and objects delivered.
Mr Atiku additionally questioned how the confirmed case was dealt with, alleging shortcomings in surveillance, contact tracing, and the safety of well being staff.
He cited the affected person’s arrival in Nigeria on 5 October, the reported onset of signs two days later and the general public affirmation of the an infection on 20 October.
The former vice chairman additional warned towards utilizing the general public well being emergency to limit political campaigns or discourage voter participation.
APC disputes allegations
Responding, the APC campaign council accused Mr Atiku of politicising the Ebola emergency and rejected his suggestion that the federal government’s response may very well be used to intervene with political actions.
“In this vein, we consider his allegation that a ministerial briefing is intended to discourage attendance at campaign rallies or voting speculative,” Mr Alake stated.
He maintained that the ministerial briefing was meant to encourage compliance with public well being protocols somewhat than prohibit political participation.
The council additionally criticised Mr Atiku’s use of wordplay linking the President’s first identify to Ebola, describing it as disrespectful to the workplace of the president.
It argued that the virus’s incubation interval might clarify why an contaminated traveller won’t be recognized by means of screening instantly upon arrival in Nigeria.
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According to the assertion, Ebola has an incubation interval of between two and 21 days, and contaminated individuals don’t transmit the illness earlier than creating signs.
The council defended the response of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and different surveillance businesses.
It stated the surveillance system helped alert the authorities to the confirmed case and supported contact tracing involving 44 individuals.
However, the assertion didn’t specify when the affected person was first recognized as a suspected Ebola case or when monitoring of the contacts started, points raised in Mr Atiku’s criticism.
The council urged political actors to assist well being professionals and keep away from spreading unverified details about the outbreak.
“A time like this demands that all Nigerians, including the opposition, rally around the health authorities and professionals, communicate responsibly, avoid rumour-mongering, and follow the protocols advised by the Task Force to ensure Ebola does not become a national epidemic,” it stated.
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